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The Chairman of United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, Tony O. Elumelu, has expressed devastation over the fire incident at Afriland Towers Plc, which hosted a UBA branch and cut short his trip to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), to return home.
“I am shattered by yesterday’s devastating incident at Afriland Towers that took the lives of our dear colleagues. No words can capture the magnitude of this loss — not for their families who loved them, not for the friends who valued them, and not for those of us who worked beside them,” Elumelu said in a letter to employees seen by MoneyCentral.
“Yesterday was a stark reminder of what truly matters: our irreplaceable people, those who walk through our doors each day and share our mission. I learnt of this on my way to the US, enroute to New York for UNGA. I have cut short my trip to return to Lagos as a mark of respect to our lost colleagues.”
A fire incident occurred yesterday at Afriland Towers, the headquarters of Afriland Properties Plc, located on Broad Street, Lagos Island, Lagos.
Initial reports indicate, the incident began in the inverter room, and, regrettably, smoke spread quickly through the building, including the emergency exits even as standard safety protocols were being observed during the evacuation.
Elumelu said that in the coming days, colleagues will be convened in a memorial to honour the memories of the departed, as well as provide support to their families.
A minute’s silence was observed today at 12:00 noon, WAT, across all Heirs Holdings group companies.
“I also want to thank all those who supported, in one way or the other, from emergency responders and first aid workers to members of the public who showed courage and compassion. As we navigate this grief, I urge you all to reach out to those who are receiving care. May this never happen again in our Group. May the souls of the departed rest in perfect peace,” Elumelu said.
Meanwhile, Afriland Properties Plc said it was working closely with the relevant authorities even as more information emerges.
“We sincerely appreciate the heroic efforts of the emergency responders, first aid workers, and members of the public who assisted with the incident today. Afriland Properties Plc will continue to provide timely updates as verified information becomes available,” Chukwunonso Okafor, Head, Marketing and Corporate Communications, Afriland Properties, said in a statement.
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